Last week, the first openly transgender student at San Francisco Police Academy graduated and is poised to join the San Francisco Police Department.

Mikayla Connell, who is 45, is also the oldest graduate in her class -- having served in the military and practicing law prior to attending the academy.

"I got literally nothing but love and acceptance from my classmates," said Connell, who excelled in the academy. She was elected class president by her peers and received two awards at graduation.

"There aren't that many transgender police officers, either female-to-male or male-to-female," explained Connell in an interview with KTVU. "And the more we have, I think the better connection the department is going to have to the transgender community."

For more information on coming out as transgender or supporting those coming out as transgender see HRC’s Transgender Visibility guide. You can also find additional transgender-specific workplace, healthcare and family resources at www.hrc.org/transgender.